Today in Beatles History: May 31

** The following events in Beatles history all took place on May 31. **

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Beatles * [J] John * [P] Paul * [G] George * [R] Ringo * [O] Other
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1961
The Beatles perform at the Top Ten Club, Reeperbahn, Hamburg, West
Germany. (1175)

1962
The Beatles perform at the Star-Club, Hamburg, West Germany. This
is the final night of their 7-week engagement. (375)

1963
The Beatles, touring with Roy Orbison, perform at the Odeon Cinema,
Southend-on-Sea, Es***. (1801)

1964
The Beatles perform two shows at the Prince of Wales Theatre,
London. The supporting acts were Kenny Lynch, Cliff Bennett & the
Rebel Rousers, the Vernons Girls, the Lorne Gibson Trio, the
Chants, and the Harlems. The Beatles perform "Can't Buy Me Love",
"All My Loving", "This Boy", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Till There Was
You", "Twist and Shout", and "Long Tall Sally". (2114)

1967
The Beatles in the recording studio (De Lane Lea Recording Studios,
Kingsway, London). A second session at De Lane Lea studios, again
without George Martin, to continue work on "It's All Too Much".
George's lead vocal, John and Paul's backing vocals, and other
overdubs are recorded. [Note: Mark Lewisohn states in his "The
Complete Beatles Chronicle" that he incorrectly reported this
session as occurring on May 26 in his book "The Beatles Complete
Recording Sessions".] The movie version of "It's All Too Much" has
an ad***ional verse not on the album version. (2683)

1968
The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Three, EMI Studios,
London). Ad***ional work on "Revolution" (the album version later
titled "Revolution 1"). Starting with the previous night's take
18, which last 10 mins 17 secs, The Beatles add overdubs of bass,
two John vocals, and George/Paul backing vocals. By the end of the
session, after numerous overdubs have been added, the final six
minutes of the song have evolved into chaotic, random jamming.
John goes from repeatedly shouting "alright" to simply shouting,
and Yoko enters the picture, she and John moaning and Yoko talking
and speaking random phrases such as "you become naked". The final
six minutes of sound collage will be eventually removed from the
end of "Revolution 1" and be made the basis for "Revolution 9". At
this point, John is very interested in the wild "Revolution" being
The Beatles' next single. This recording session is the first that
Yoko attends, and she will be at very nearly every subsequent
Beatles recording session until the group calls it quits. (2839)

1969
The Beatles' single "Get Back" is #1 in the US charts for the 2nd
week. (3072)

1976
US release of Beatles single "Got to Get You Into My Life/Helter
Skelter" (Capitol). 16 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position
#7. (202)

[P] 1977
US release of Suzy and the Red Stripes (Wings) single "Seaside
Woman/B Side to Seaside" (Epic). (219)

[G] 1977
UK release of George Harrison single "It's What You Value/Woman
Don't You Cry For Me" (Dark Horse). (662)

[P] 1980
Paul McCartney's LP "McCartney II" reaches #1 in the UK charts.
The first of two weeks at #1. (3352)

[P] 1980
Paul McCartney's single "Coming Up" reaches #1 in the UK charts.
(3572)


Hasta La Vista